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Area nonprofits struggling, but remain strong, during COVID-19 outbreak

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Updated: 2:54 PM PDT Mar 27, 2020

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STILL HELP. MELANIE: MANY NONPROFITS ARE STRUGGLING RIGHT NOW. THEY ARE TRYING TO FIND WAYS TO COPE DURING THIS CORONAVIRUS CRISIS AND STILL BE OF SERVICE TO GROUPS IN THE COMMUNITY. WE ARE TALKING ABOUT ORGANIZATIONS THAT HELP IN ALL FACETS OF OUR COMMUNITY. THINGS LIKE CHILDREN AND AT RISK YOUTH GROUPS, DOMESTIC VIOLENCE ASSISTANCE, HOMELESS POPULATIONS ARE HELPED BY NONPROFITS, SOCIAL SERVICES ARE PROVIDED. THOSE IN NEED OF MENTAL HEALTH COUNSELING ARE ALSO ASSISTED BY NONPROFITS. ANIMAL SHELTERS. THIS ALSO APPLIES TO MANY SCIENCE, MUSIC, AND ART ORGANIZATIONS. EVEN SPORTS-FOCUSED GROUPS OUR NONPROFIT. IN FACT, ACCORDING TO THE SACRAMENTO REGION COMMUNITY FOUNDATION, 95% OF COMMUNITY NONPROFITS IN SACRAMENTO, YOLO, PLACER, AND EL DORADO COUNTIES ARE GOING TO EXPERIENCE SEVERE PROGRAM DISRUPTIONS. WHETHER IT’S IN HOW THEY PROVIDE KEY SERVICES, AND MANY TRYING TO FIGURE OUT HOW TO EXPAND SERVICES AS THEY FILL THE NEEDS OF PEOPLE AFFECTED BY THE CORONAVIRUS. THE COMMUNITY FOUNDATION IS CONFIDENT THIS REGION WILL STEP UP. >> I BELIEVE THAT THE STRENGTH OF OUR COMMUNITY IS THAT WE COME TOGETHER AND SUPPORT EACH OTHER IN TIMES OF CRISIS AND I’M FULLY CONFIDENT THAT WE’RE GONNA GET THROUGH THIS. WE’RE GONNA GET THROUGH THIS TOGETHER. AND WE’RE HERE. WE’RE HERE TO STEP IN AND BE A PARTNER. MELANIE: THE COMMUNITY FOUNDATION SAYS AREA NONPROFITS ARE DOING A GREAT JOB TRYING TO ADAPT UNDER THE CIRCUMSTANCES. MANY TAKING AS MUCH AS THEY POSSIBLY CAN ONLINE AND USING TECHNOLOGY IN WAYS THEY HAVEN’T BEFORE. SOME HOLDING THEIR SPRING FUNDRAISERS IN A VIRTUAL FORMAT. STILL, OTHERS ARE HURTING AS MANY LONGTIME DONORS AREN’T ABLE TO MAKE DONATIONS THIS YEAR. THEY’RE TRYING TO KEEP THEIR OWN BUSINESSES AFLOAT. ANOTHER CHALLENGE NONPROFITS ARE FACING IS VOLUNTEERS WHO WOULD NORMALLY SHOW UP AT THE NONPROFIT LOCATIONS. THEIR OFFICES CAN DO THAT NOW BECAUSE OF SOCIAL DISTANCING RESTRICTIONS. THE BOTTOM LINE MESSAGE FROM THE SACRAMENTO REGION COMMUNITY FOUNDATION IS, HELP SUPPORT YOUR LOCAL NONPROFIT THIS YEAR, NOW MORE THAN EVER

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Area nonprofits struggling, but remain strong, during COVID-19 outbreak

Nonprofit organizations that assist so many people and help to enrich our community are now in need of support themselves. The coronavirus outbreak has hit the region's nonprofit sector hard, and many nonprofits are now scrambling to cope with the challenges they face.Nearly all nonprofits, region-wide, are feeling the effects of the outbreak. Groups that provide programs, services and outreach to area museums and vital social services are struggling right now."These are the folks that are on the ground, boots-on-the-ground, front-line organizations," said Niva Flor, chief impact and donor engagement officer for Sacramento Region Community Foundation. "They are trusted messengers in their communities who we rely on to be able to provide these critical services. So our support, now more than ever, is absolutely critical," Flor said. According to the Sacramento Region Community Foundation, 95% of community nonprofits in Sacramento, Yolo, Placer and El Dorado counties are going to experience severe program disruptions through the outbreak and beyond.Many are left trying to figure out how they can continue to provide vital community services. Others are having to expand their services as they fill the needs of people affected by COVID-19. “It’s important that we recognize that these are longstanding and embedded issues in our communities that are only being exacerbated by COVID-19,” Flor said. “It’s going to require that we all do our part -- philanthropy, government, private sector, business sector -- and that we work together to address these needs. We can’t do it on our own.”Some nonprofits are feeling the financial burden of the coronavirus outbreak as many long-time donors simply won't be able to make vital contributions this year -- they’re trying to keep their own businesses afloat. Several organizations that rely on volunteers can't do the work that requires them to meet in groups. In the face of these challenges, the community foundation is confident the region will step up.“I believe that the strength of our community is that we come together and support each other in times of crisis,” Flor said. “I'm fully confident that we're going to get through this. We're going to get through this together… We're here to step in and be a partner.”The community foundation says area nonprofits are doing a great job of trying to adapt to this new reality. They’re taking as much as they possibly can online and finding ways to incorporate technology, even if they haven't utilized it before. For instance, some nonprofits are now holding “virtual” spring fundraisers and canceled in-person fundraising events.One way the community is asked to help local nonprofits is by donating to one of the region’s 600 nonprofits on the annual Big Day of Giving. It’s a 24-hour, community-wide fundraising drive scheduled for Thursday, May 7. Learn more about the nonprofits participating here.

SACRAMENTO, Calif. —

Nonprofit organizations that assist so many people and help to enrich our community are now in need of support themselves.

The coronavirus outbreak has hit the region's nonprofit sector hard, and many nonprofits are now scrambling to cope with the challenges they face.

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Nearly all nonprofits, region-wide, are feeling the effects of the outbreak. Groups that provide programs, services and outreach to area museums and vital social services are struggling right now.

"These are the folks that are on the ground, boots-on-the-ground, front-line organizations," said Niva Flor, chief impact and donor engagement officer for Sacramento Region Community Foundation.

"They are trusted messengers in their communities who we rely on to be able to provide these critical services. So our support, now more than ever, is absolutely critical," Flor said.

According to the Sacramento Region Community Foundation, 95% of community nonprofits in Sacramento, Yolo, Placer and El Dorado counties are going to experience severe program disruptions through the outbreak and beyond.

Many are left trying to figure out how they can continue to provide vital community services. Others are having to expand their services as they fill the needs of people affected by COVID-19.

“It’s important that we recognize that these are longstanding and embedded issues in our communities that are only being exacerbated by COVID-19,” Flor said. “It’s going to require that we all do our part -- philanthropy, government, private sector, business sector -- and that we work together to address these needs. We can’t do it on our own.”

Some nonprofits are feeling the financial burden of the coronavirus outbreak as many long-time donors simply won't be able to make vital contributions this year -- they’re trying to keep their own businesses afloat.

Several organizations that rely on volunteers can't do the work that requires them to meet in groups. In the face of these challenges, the community foundation is confident the region will step up.

“I believe that the strength of our community is that we come together and support each other in times of crisis,” Flor said. “I'm fully confident that we're going to get through this. We're going to get through this together… We're here to step in and be a partner.”

The community foundation says area nonprofits are doing a great job of trying to adapt to this new reality. They’re taking as much as they possibly can online and finding ways to incorporate technology, even if they haven't utilized it before.

For instance, some nonprofits are now holding “virtual” spring fundraisers and canceled in-person fundraising events.

One way the community is asked to help local nonprofits is by donating to one of the region’s 600 nonprofits on the annual Big Day of Giving. It’s a 24-hour, community-wide fundraising drive scheduled for Thursday, May 7. Learn more about the nonprofits participating here.